Qualifier 2 is the match between a team with maximum Aussies and a team of IPL that follows the Aussies guts. The question is whether Zinta’s team will reach the first final or Srinivasan’s team will get another routine entry to the final, their sixth in 7 editions. With a revamped team Kings XI Punjab certainly have more reasons to feel confident than Chennai Super Kings who have strong batting but weaker bowling. Maxwell has already hit 43-ball 95 runs and then 38 ball 90 runs against CSK, and banking on its batsmen and bowler Kings XI would be looking to make it 3-0 for the current edition. CSK may get confidence from the 20008 semifinal when they knocked out Kings XI, but then CSK won both the group matches too, and Kings XI will look at 2008 and remember this time they have won both the group matches.
History
They have met 14 times, including the semifinals of 2008. Except the Super Over win in 2010, Kings XI has failed to avoid loss in other 7 games making them an easy prey. They have won only four matches against the IPL champions, but the encouraging factor is that in the current edition they have defeated CSK in both the group matches.
Head-to-Head: CSK 8, KXIP 6
2008
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CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 33 Runs
CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 18 Runs
CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 9 Wickets
2009
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CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 12 Runs
CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 24 Runs
2010
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KXIP def CSK in Super Over (After tie)
CSK def Kings XI Punjab by 6 Wickets
2011
- KXIP def CSK by 6 wkts, MOM: Valthaty
2012
- KXIP def CSK by 7 runs, MOM: Mandeep Singh
KXIP def CSK by 6 wkts, MOM: Gilchrist
2013
- CSK won by 10 wickets, MOM: Michael Hussey
CSK won by 15 runs, MOM: Raina
2014
Overall Performances in IPL
The 2014 success has improved the poor portfolio of Kings XI. They have reached their second semifinal and won the Kingfisher Fair Play Award in 2009. Kings XI have 49 losses against 55 wins till the Qualifier match they lost against KKR.
CSK has the best portfolio with 69 wins and 44 losses. They have reached knock out stage in all the seven editions, and won the tournament twice besides once winning the CLT20 also.
CSKs match Results in 2013
Team Comparison
Before the start of 7th edition, Kings XI team was a a non-entity. But, now they are the best team of the season. They were the superstars till halfway. But, they have been tumbling in the last few matches, still the best team of the tournament, so far, can be as good as a sleeping lion be. Even their bowlers have been not that bad as compared to other teams whose batting is too good.
Chennai Super Kings on the other hand easily reached the semifinal, just like Kings XI. But, their bowling is a concern and Kings XI has exposed it in two matches they met. Overall, their batting is the strongest and in the Eliminator they showed why. It covers for the average bowling unit that contains the likes of highest wicket taker of current IPL, Mohit Sharma, and then stars like Ashwin and Jadeja. Still their team is more about batting.
Verdict
Maxwell!! Maxwell and Miller Magic!! That is whay both the teams and cricket fans would be thinking of when these teams play Qualifier 2. Maxwell has already humiliated CSK twice in the championship. But he is out of the marauding form since the last few matches, which Kings XI have somehow managed to win. But the Qualifier showed, Playoff is a different ball game and Kings XI need the man to wake up. CSK can be expected to devise a plan for him. Otherwise their strong batting unit that comprises of 4 foreigner T20 experts, Raina and Dhoni will be again of no use.
Kings XI bowling is slightly better than the CSK bowling. But, unless batting clicks, nothing will be useful against the CSK strong batting line up. So, it is all about the fight between the batting units again, and the team whose bowlers who manage to get hit for lesser number of boundaries will win the game for the team.
Overall, despite good strong batting line up of CSK, the vote goes for likes of failing Sehwag, young turk Manan Vohra, Saha, and experienced trio of Maxwell, Miller and Bailey. Kings XI should win, although not that comfortably as they won at the group stage. The first final awaits them.
Their matches has already seen 3 200+ scores, today might be the turn of another such innings.
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